Residence permit medical treatment

Last update: 9 December 2024

You need a residence permit for medical treatment in the Netherlands. This is also the case if you want to stay in the Netherlands on medical grounds after postponing your departure for 1 year (Section 64 of the Dutch Aliens Act, in Dutch: Vreemdelingenwet). Find out what the requirements are and how to apply for the residence permit.

Requirements

These requirements apply to you.

The Netherlands is the most appropriate country for the medical treatment required. This means that a certain medical speciality is only available in the Netherlands that is not available in your own country.
The medical treatment is necessary according to the Dutch Medical Advisors Office (BMA) of the IND.
The healthcare institution is available for your medical treatment.
You have healthcare insurance that covers the treatment in the Netherlands. You do not use public funds to pay for this insurance and the costs of the treatment.
You have or the person who pays for your stay in the Netherlands has independent, sustainable and sufficient income.
You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone. You do not need to have a valid passport or other travel document if you are in this situation.
- You are in the Netherlands.
- Your identity and nationality are sufficiently clear. The government in your country of origin has no doubt about your identity and nationality.
- You can only get a new passport if you go to your country of origin yourself.
- A medical emergency will happen if you stop your medical treatment.
- You cannot be treated for your disease or symptoms in your country of origin. Or you have no access to medical treatment there.

Extra requirements for medical treatment after postponement of departure (Section 64 Aliens Act)

After postponement of your departure for 1 year (Section 64 of the Aliens Act), you want to stay in the Netherlands on medical grounds. In that case these extra requirements apply to you .

You received postponement of your departure for 1 year or more under Section 64 of the Aliens Act (Vw).
You are still being treated for your disease.
No treatment exists in your country of origin for your disease or symptoms. Or you have no access there to medical treatment for your disease.
You apply immediately after postponement of your departure for 1 year. Submit the application in the period between 28 days before and 28 days after the end of the year of postponement of departure.

The requirements for income and payment do not apply to you.

Surinamese with a visa for medical treatment

Do you have the Surinamese nationality? And are you in the Netherlands with a visa for medical treatment? You can extend your stay after 6 months with a residence permit for medical treatment, if the medical treatment is still necessary. You must also have arranged the payment properly.

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

Show details Hide details

1. Check requirements open minus

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

Make sure you meet the requirements.
1. Check requirements open minus

Make sure you meet the requirements.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application forms lists which documents you need. This form is only available in English. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time at the Dutch representation (embassy or consulate) abroad.

Make appointment at Dutch embassy or consulate

Before you can apply for the MVV and the residence permit, you must make an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin or country of residence.

The country of origin is the country of which you have the nationality. The country of residence is the country where you have been allowed to stay for more than 3 months, because you have a residence permit there or are waiting for a decision on your residence application. If there is no Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin or country of residence, you can make an appointment at the nearest Dutch embassy or consulate.

During appointment at Dutch embassy or consulate

Bring the completed application form, your passport photo and your valid passport with you to the appointment. In certain situations, you must bring extra documents with you. On the application form you will find out this applies to you. A staff member of the Dutch embassy or consulate will register your application and fill in the application date on the application form. The staff member also fills in the details of the Dutch embassy or consulate. Afterwards, you will get the form back. You will receive confirmation of receipt with your personal V-number.

The Dutch embassy or consulate will also take your biometric data: your fingerprints will be recorded and you will write down your signature. These data are needed for the residence permit.

Send application to IND

Has the application been filled in completely? And have you collected all required documents? Then you must send your own application including the documents to the IND in the Netherlands. You must do this within 3 weeks of the date that is stated on your application form by the embassy or consulate. You can find out on the form where you must send the application.
3. Apply open minus

You can submit the application in writing by post. You do this within 3 months after you have travelled to the Netherlands.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 1201,00. An application after postponement of departure for 1 year (Section 64 Aliens Act) is free of charge. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.
The application form explains how you must pay the costs. Pay the costs within 3 weeks of the date that the Dutch embassy or consulate filled in on your application form.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 1201,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.
You will get a letter explaining how you can pay.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send you a letter.
Follow the application in My IND.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send you a letter.
Follow the application in My IND.
6. Decision on application open minus
You will receive a message with the decision. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get an MVV and a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not receive an MVV and residence permit. You can object against this decision.
6. Decision on application open minus
You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not receive a residence permit. You can object against this decision.
7. Apply for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minus

You can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV. You apply for the MVV visa sticker at the Dutch representation (embassy or consulate) where you submitted the application for a residence permit.
The MVV is valid for 90 days.
Apply for MVV visa sticker within 3 months of decision
In order to apply for the MVV visa sticker, you will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation.
Valid passport required
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in your passport.
7. Collect residence permit open minus

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
8. Collect residence permit open minus

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.

Application forms

Written application forms

Application for admission and residence on temporary or non temporary humanitarian grounds’ (foreign national) 9522 (PDF, 231.25 KB)

Written application forms

Application for the purpose of residence of 'medical treatment' (foreign national) 7540 (PDF, 1.19 MB)

The residence permit

What else you need to know about the residence permit:

TB test

Did you indicate at the time of the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment with the public health service (Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:

Appendix TB test referral form 7604(PDF, 230.36 KB)

Working with the residence permit

With a residence permit for medical treatment, you are not allowed to work in the Netherlands. It says in Dutch on the back of the residence permit: work not allowed (in Dutch: arbeid niet toegestaan).

Legal obligations

You have an obligation to provide information. This means that you must notify the IND of changes in your situation. Find out more about your obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not you can get an administrative fine.

Validity of residence permit

Your residence permit is valid for the entire period of your get medical treatment. The residence permit is valid for 1 year at most.

Residence permit sometimes valid for 5 years

The IND can grant a residence permit for 5 years in the following situations:

The availability of the medical treatment in the country of origin is unknown. The BMA has concluded this 5 years in a row. This concerns a general situation.
Your necessary medical treatment is not available in the country of origin. The BMA has concluded this in 3 successive individual medical advices.

Type of residence permit

The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.

Other applications

Replace residence permit

Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change of personal details or residence permit lost or stolen.

Extend residence permit

Will your residence permit expire soon? And you still get medical treatment in the Netherlands? Then you can extend the residence permit.

Apply for a different residence permit

Have you had a residence permit for medical treatment for 3 years? Then you can change your residence permit to the residence permit ‘humanitarian non-temporary – continuation of residence’.

Residence permit medical treatment

Requirements

Extra requirements for medical treatment after postponement of departure (Section 64 Aliens Act)

Surinamese with a visa for medical treatment

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

Make appointment at Dutch embassy or consulate

During appointment at Dutch embassy or consulate

Send application to IND

Apply for MVV visa sticker within 3 months of decision

Valid passport required

Application forms

Written application forms

Written application forms

The residence permit

What else you need to know about the residence permit:

TB test

Working with the residence permit

Legal obligations

Validity of residence permit

Residence permit sometimes valid for 5 years

Type of residence permit

Other applications

Replace residence permit

Extend residence permit

Apply for a different residence permit

See also